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Underlying sales growth of 4.4%, with 3.9% volume and 0.5% price
Emerging markets underlying sales growth 5.3% and developed markets 3.1%
Turnover decreased 2.4%, with a negative impact from currency of 7.7%
Quarterly shareholder dividend maintained at
Commenting on the results, CEO
'We continue to progress our strategic change agenda. Our proposals to simplify
'The environment we are operating in will remain unpredictable in the near term, so we will continue to maintain the speed and agility of our response. Our focus remains volume-led competitive growth, delivering absolute profit and free cash flow.'
Our markets
Covid-19 continues to influence consumer behaviours and channel dynamics in our markets. In
We continued to respond with agility to the changing consumer and channel dynamics that have come about as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic, focusing on driving execution against the five growth fundamentals we set out earlier this year.
Underlying sales growth accelerated compared to the second quarter. Elevated levels of growth for hand and home hygiene products continued, as well as for food consumed at home. Our food service and out of home ice cream businesses continued to decline, however at lower levels compared to the second quarter. Performance also improved in our other categories, with declines lessening in deodorants and skin care, while laundry and hair returned to growth. Online channels continued to grow, and our e-commerce business grew 76%.
Emerging markets grew 5.3%, as
Turnover decreased 2.4%. There was a positive impact of 1.3% from acquisitions net of disposals and a negative impact of 7.7% from currency.
Beauty & Personal Care
Beauty & Personal Care underlying sales grew 3.8%, with 3.5% from volume and 0.4% from price.
Demand for hand hygiene products remained high, albeit slightly below levels seen in the second quarter, and skin cleansing delivered underlying sales growth of 19.9%. Growth was supported by innovations including Dove's entry into the antibacterial segment, and the extension of Lifebuoy into new formats and channels across several European markets.
Skin care declined high-single digit and deodorants declined low-single digit. Both categories were negatively impacted by restricted living conditions, although improved compared to the second quarter as many countries eased lockdowns. Hair grew overall, as a decline in styling was offset by growth in wash and care products.
Our Prestige business grew as the health and beauty channel reopened, although footfall remained subdued.
Home Care
Home Care underlying sales grew 6.7%, with 8.5% from volume and negative pricing of -1.6%.
Consumer demand for household cleaners to combat the spread of Covid-19 continued. Our home and hygiene brands delivered high-teens underlying sales growth, with germ-killing and antibacterial benefits particularly sought after. We launched Domestos in
Fabric solutions grew low-single digit, although price declined as we passed on reduced commodity costs particularly in European and South East Asian markets. In
Foods & Refreshment
Foods & Refreshment underlying sales grew 3.7%, with 1.8% from volume and 1.8% from price.
Our retail foods business grew double digit and tea saw mid-single digit growth as in-home eating occasions continued at elevated levels. Hellmann's grew mid-teens, with Hellmann's Vegan now available in 30 markets.
Sales of ice cream grew, driven by both volume and price. Mid-teens growth of in-home ice cream, led by brands including
The food service channel remained fully or partially closed in many markets and food service sales declined by over 20%, however trends continue to improve with
We have made good progress in integrating the Horlicks business and we continue the work to implement the separation of our tea businesses.
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